Steering gear for wheeled vehicles



March 9,1948. T A BWE 2,437,590

STEERING GEAR FOR WHEELED VEHICLES Filed NOV. 23, 1945 722924Z@ #maw vf Patented Maru 9, 1948 ySTA-riss PATENT voiirlcr.

STEERINGYIGER FOR WHEELEDVHICLES Thomas` A.Bowe, Hilbert, Wis. -Applie'ation November 23, 1945,-Se`ral No." 630,418

This invention relates to improvements in v` steering gears for wheeled vehicles. andisparticularly applicable to wheeled agricultural implements,4 trailers,` and other typesof vehicles having steerably mounted frontwheels angularly turned by a forwardly extending steering pole and connection, which pole and connection is hitched to a tractor or other propelled towing vehicle.

A` general object of the invention'is to provide a farm implement, trailer, or wagon steeringgear which is more simple;v rigid and durablethanthe present types ofA steering gearsfor. said implements and 'vehicles and which will eliminate whipping as between the towed and towing' ve hic-les, minimizing side sway of the towed vehicle.

' A further object ofthe invention is to'v provide, in a wheeled vehicle steering gear, massive members connected together and adaptedf'for relative movement, but susceptible of 'easy movement and 'arranged to prevent looseness,` play and wear as between the relatively movable parts.

A further object of the invention is tofprovide a wheeled vehicle steering 'gearin which theinner ends of the-steering rods are adjustablycarried by a one piece yoke member Which'is centrally pivotally mounted relative to the vehicle steering pole in' a very rigid and compact manner whicheliminates' the necessity for 'independent bushings.

A further object of the invention is to' provide,

in av wheeled vehicle steering' gear, spaceclfhorizontal plates 'which turnably-'embrace therebetween top and bottom edge portions 'ofi'the turnable connecting 'clevis,` thereby supporting Tsaid `clevis against undesired tilting or rocking'movement during operations.

A further object of the invention is toprovide, in a wheeled vehicle steering gear, improved-adjustable means for limiting the turning movement of the steering gear.

'A further object of the invention isto provide, in a wheeled vehicle steering gear-ofthe chara'cter'- described,Y ajdouble thickness clevis member-which embraces a vertical pivot bolt and provides a relatively great-bearing surface.

' Still another specific object of the 'invention is 'to provide, vin a wheeled vehicle steering gear including a pivotal steering-- pole,v improvedmeans for anchoring the boltupon whichthepoleY is mounted for movementsin a vertical plane, the anchorage for said bolt being such-as to prevent wear and strain on the surfaces of the y'contacting elements.

A further objectV of the'invention islto provide, in'v a wheeled vehiclel steering.'- gear; anfimprovd pivotal connection' betweenithe adjacent inner end portions of the vehicle steering pole and reach, said? pivotal connection including a double thickness' cleviswith' means engaging the latter 'to prevent it fromspreading and tilting when strains 'are imposed on iti-during' movements of 4thesteering pole.

f A further object ofthe invention is toprovide a steering gear for wheeled trailer vehicles;which is of 'very sim-ple construction; is strongrdurable and rigid; which is inexpensive `to manufacture. which is efficient in operation,`= and -which1is-w'el1 adaptedfor Vthe Y purposes described.

- With the above-andi other objectsinview;fthe invention consists ofthe improved Vsteering.gear

for-wheeled Vehicles,and'its parts and :combinations as 'set forthlin 'the claims, and-vallequivalents thereof.

-In 'the accompanying drawing iin whichfthe same reference charactersindicate the sameipafrts in all ofthe views:

I Fig. 1 is a' fragmentarylplanview; with portions'in fsection, of thev` improved steering? gear` as appliedlto the Yfront -axle andrforward -end portion of' aV -wheeledy vehicle or` implement f of'the trailer type, said viewbeing'indicated by-the line l-lin Fig.2; y

`VFig.l 2 is a'front view offthe trailervehicles chassis, front axle and steering gear; Withf-the steering pole in cross section;

Fig. 3'is an enlargeddetailsectional view'tak'en on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4' is an enlarged fragmentaryhori'zontal sectional'view through the -clevis portionlofbthe steering gear; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional viewltaken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1. .1

It should be' understoodv that' 'the improved steering gear is applied to the front end structure of a trailer vehicle and is directly associated with said vehicles wheel-carrying yfront .-axle.` Said vehicleincludes a reach and a forwardlyv` extending steering pole; the latter being yadaptedeto bef-hitched to the rearend portion of l a' tractor or Aother-vehicle which furnishes the motivepow'er and Awhich does thetowing. The trailerY vehicle or- 'implement to which the improved steering gearis applied has not been completely illustrated as the drawingV discloses only the'front end=por tions of the elements withA which the steering gear is directly associated. The vehicle to whichthe invention ris applied ispreferably a wheeledfarm implement'wagon, or other form of trailerlvehicle.

f Referring now more fparticularlyfto' theldr'awing, 1t will appear that the steering pole of a wheeled trailer vehicle is indicated by the numeral 8. Said steering pole extends forwardly and its outer end is adapted to be hitched to the rear end portion of a tractor, a self-propelled towing vehicle such as a truck, or an animal pulled vehicle (not shown). The inner end portion of the steering pole 8 has its side portions embraced by the side arm portions of a clevis 9. This clevis differs from the yoke shown in my prior Patent No. 2,333,149, in that it is of double thickness, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, with the curved inner ends thereof being of different contour but in contact as at 50, with said contacting portions being riveted together as at 5I. Within the curved inner end of the inner layer of the clevis S, is welded or otherwise secured, a cylindrical vertically extending bearing 52 for a purpose hereinafter to be set forth. The curved closed inner end of the clevis 9 extends beyond the inner end of the steering pole 8 and is positioned between upper iand lower horizontal flanges I and II at the forward end of a wagon or vehicle reach I2. Welded or otherwise secured to the ends of the horizontal flanges I8 and I I are spaced transverse plates I3. These plates embrace therebetween upper and lower edge portions of the clevis 9 and ride along the edges of the clevis during turning movements of the steering gear and are effective in preventing angular or tilting displacement of the connected end portions of the steering pole and wagon reach. The bore of the bearing '52 is adapted to receive the shank portion of a hardened steel pin I which provides the main connection as between the adjacent inner end portions of the steering pole 8 and the reach I2. As is shown in Fig. 5 said pin I5 is formed with a plate-like head I5' which is anchored by means of a bolt 53 to the top of the rea-ch flange I0, whereby the pin I5 is prevented from rotating- The pin I5 is maintained stationary so that the bearing 52, integral with the closed end portion of the steering pole carried clevis 9, turns or pivotson the stationary pin I5. Said pin, being of hardened steel, eifectively takes the wear. Also the doubled formation of the clevis increases its strength and provides greater bearing surface inengagement with lthe transverse plates I3. It should also be noted that the pin I5 is formed with an oil duct 54 by which means the interior of the bearing 52 may be kept lubricated.

The inner end of the steering pole 8 is provided with an encircling strap 2| disposed exteriorly of the side arms of the bi-layered clevis 9. The inner end of the steering pole 8 is pivotally attached to the side arms of said clevis 9. This is accomplished by means of a horizontal bolt 22. The major portion of the shank of said bolt extends through a sleeve portion 23 (seeA Fig. 3) in the inner end of the pole 8.

It will be observed that the vehicle to which the improved steering gear is applied includes a rigid front axle 26, to the opposite extremities of which are pivotally attached wheel-carrying stub axles 21. The improved steering gear is adapted to effect simultaneous and uniform movement of the wheel-carrying stub axles which are equipped with the usual steering knuckles 28, The latter carry short steering arms 29 to the outer ends of which are pivotally and adjustably connected angularly directed steering rods 38. The outer end of each steering rod 38 is rigidly secured to the closed end portion of a yoke 3i. Said yoke is of one piece and is V-shaped in plan view, as shown in Fig. l, so as to aline with the angular disposition of the steering rods 30. Said yoke is suiiiciently wide to embrace the band 2I and the apex of the angular yoke 3|, both on the.

top and bottom sides thereof, is pivotally mounted on the band 2l and hence is pivotally associated with the steering pole 8 as is best shown in Fig. 3 in the drawing. In said view it will be noted that the medial upper and lower portions of the band 2i are formed with projecting boss portions 32 which are provided with bores. Likewise, the medial upper and lower portions of the yoke 3l are formed with boss portions 33 provided with bores. Shouldered pivot pins 34 are extended through the openings in the registering bosses 32 and 33, said pivot pins having headed `outer extremities and having their inner extremities threaded and carrying nuts 35. The pivot pins 34 permit the jointed parts to pivot thereon in a horizontal plane and connect the yoke 3| to the band 2 I.

By the provision of the angular yoke 3! which carries the ends of the steering rods 30, pivotal connections are made with the steering pole both adjacent the upper and lower surfaces thereof, dividing the strains and stresses, minimizing wear, and providing additional and substantial bearing surfaces. Said yoke is preferably formed of spring steel to give resiliency and additional strength.

Intermediate side portions of the bi-layered clevis 9, beyond the extremity of the steering pole 8, are connected by a transverse horizontal bolt 36. This bolt normally functions to prevent spreading of the opposite sides of the clevis 9 when strain is imposed thereon due to horizontal movements of the steering pole 8. There is also a vertically disposed bolt 3l connecting the transverse horizontal plates I3. Said vertical bolt 3l is positioned so that it will be engaged by the side inner surface portions of the arms of the clevis 8 and thereby form a stop to limit turning movements of the steering pole 8 in either direction horizontally. At such times as the bolt 3l acts as a stop, in contacting with the sides of the clevis 9, there is an outward force imposed against that portion of the clevis which contacts with the bolt 31. During these periods the horizontal bolt 33 finds its greatest utility in restraining outward bowing of the clevis.

The present invention does not rely entirely, however, on the vertical bolt 3l to provide the pivot limiting stop mentioned. It is possible that after considerable service said bolt might become sheared, and if the bolt is made heavy enough to withstand shearing it will then restrict or hinder free turning movement of the mechanism. Therefore, to guard against this contingency and to permit the use of a bolt which is not too heavy, an additional stop mechanism is provided to limit horizontal turning movements of the steering pole 8. Said additional stop means comprises a pair of angularly directed brackets 54 rigidly secured between the flanged inner extremities of the vehicle reach I2. In the outer end of each bracket 54 is threaded a headed bolt 55, and said bolts may be turned inwardly or outwardly to regulate the points of stop contact with the turned steering pole to limit the turning movement of the latter, in either horizontal direction. Each bolt 55, furthermore, carries a lock nut 56 to secure it in adjusted position. According to the settings of the bolts 55, when the steering pole 8 turns horizontally sufficiently far it will contact the head of the adjusted bolt 55, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1, and thereby prevent further turning movement of the steering pole in that direction.

Inasmuch as the forward end of the reach i2 is of recessed formation by virtue of the space between the flanges IE and H and the transverse plates i3, if no provisions were made to guard thereagainst, during up and down pivotal movements of the steering `pole 8, strains in a horizontal direction would be imposed against the horizontal flanges I0 and il of the reach, and the transverse plates I 3, which strains would ordinarily tend to spread the mentioned parts. The vertical bolt 3T guards against this contingency.

The improved steering gear provides a massive structure which encircles the end portion of the steering pole adjacent its connection with the vehicle reach and as a result, strains and stresses are thoroughly distributed. The onepiece yoke 3i, in its relationship to the assembly, adds strength and rigidity and minimizes tortional strains as well as lost motion relative to the steering arms during sidewise movements of the steering pole.

Parts of the structure which might ordinarily be subjected to bowing and deflections are suitably reinforced and braced. Due to the rigidity of the mechanism and the elimination of play and lost motion in the connections, a trailer vehicle may be towed in a very stable manner with a minimum of Whipping and side-sway as between the towed and towing vehicles.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the improved steering gear for wheeled vehicles is of simple strong and eiective 'construction, and is well adapted for the purposes set forth.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. A steering gear, comprising a vehicle chassis including a central reach, the forward end portion of the reach having spaced horizontal flanges, wheel-carrying axle members pivotally associated with forward portions of the chassis, a steering pole having an articulated inner end section including a strap, the articulated portions of the steering pole being relatively movable in a vertical plane, the extremity of the articulated portion of the steering pole extending be- 6 tween the spaced fianges of the reach, means pivotally connecting said extremity of the steering pole to said flanges of the reach for horizontal turning movements, complementary, adjustable means carried by adjacent portions of the steering pole and reach for limiting relative turning movements of the same, a pair of angularly related steering rods pivotally associated at opposite ends with said axle member, a unitary member interposed between and having its opposite ends connected to said steering rods, and pivot members mounting said unitary member on said strap.

2. A steering gear, comprising a vehicle chassis including a central reach, the forward end portion of the reach having spaced horizontal iianges, spaced transverse plates carried by the ends of said iianges, wheel-carrying axle members pivotally associated with forward portions of the chassis, a steering pole having an articulated inner end section including a clevis, the articulated portions of the steering pole being relatively movable in a vertical plane, the extremity of the clevis extending between the spaced anges of the reach and intermediate portions of the clevis extending between said transverse plates and being prevented from rocking thereby, means pivotally connecting said extremity of the clevis to said flanges of the reach for horizontal turning movements, adjustable complementary means carried by adjacent portions of the steering pole and reach for limiting relative turning movements of the same, a pair of angularly related steering rods pivotally associated at opposite ends with said axle member, a unitary yoke member interposed between and having its opposite ends connected to said steering rods, and means intermediately pivotally associating said yoke member with the steering pole.

THOMAS A. BOWE.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Bowe Nov. 2, 1943 Number 

